Genesis 47:25-48:22

New International Version

²⁵ “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord;^(A) we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”^(B)

²⁶ So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth^(C) of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.^(D)

²⁷ Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen.^(E) They acquired property there^(F) and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.^(G)

²⁸ Jacob lived in Egypt^(H) seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.^{(I) 29} When the time drew near for Israel^(J) to die,^(K) he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(L) put your hand under my thigh^(M) and promise that you will show me kindness^(N) and faithfulness.^(O) Do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but when I rest with my fathers,^(P) carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.”^(Q)

“I will do as you say,” he said.

³¹ “Swear to me,”^(R) he said. Then Joseph swore to him,^(S) and Israel^(T) worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.^[a](U)

Manasseh and Ephraim

48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim^(V) along with him. ² When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel^(W) rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.

³ Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty^[b](X) appeared to me at Luz^(Y) in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me^{(Z) 4} and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers.^(AA) I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land^(AB) as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’^(AC)

⁵ “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt^(AD) before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine,^(AE) just as Reuben^(AF) and Simeon^(AG) are mine. ⁶ Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. ⁷ As I was returning from Paddan,^[c](AH) to my sorrow^(AI) Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).^(AJ)

⁸ When Israel^(AK) saw the sons of Joseph,^(AL) he asked, “Who are these?”

⁹ “They are the sons God has given me here,”^(AM) Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless^(AN) them.”

¹⁰ Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see.^(AO) So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them^(AP) and embraced them.^(AQ)

¹¹ Israel^(AR) said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again,^(AS) and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”^(AT)

¹² Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees^(AU) and bowed down with his face to the ground.^{(AV) 13} And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand,^(AW) and brought them close to him. ¹⁴ But Israel^(AX) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,^(AY) though he was the younger,^(AZ) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.^(BA)

¹⁵ Then he blessed^(BB) Joseph and said,

¹⁷ When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand^(BK) on Ephraim’s head^(BL) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”^(BM)

¹⁹ But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.^(BN) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,^(BO) and his descendants will become a group of nations.^(BP)” ²⁰ He blessed^(BQ) them that day^(BR) and said,

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you^[e](BW) and take you^[f] back to the land of your^[g] fathers.^{(BX) 22} And to you I give one more ridge of land^[h](BY) than to your brothers,^(BZ) the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword^(CA) and my bow.”